Steven Gladstone is a New York-based filmmaker who has worked in the industry for more than 20 years as an animation/motion control cameraman, gaffer, camera assistant, D.P., and director. He spent a year and a half videotaping Holocaust survivors for the Survivors of the Shoah project and has a Master of Communication Arts degree. When he isn't working at B&H, he pursues personal filmmaking projects and spends time with his children. His personal website is www.gladstonefilms.com.
Steven Gladstone
Latest Articles
15 hours ago
0
Lighting hasn't really changed in the past few decades. Sure, new fixtures, faster cameras and lenses, and shooting styles may change, but the essence of lighting really hasn't changed. The look of the scene is still driven by the DP and still created by the lighting designer; it is still all about ratios, and no matter how technology advances, lighting is a powerful tool for putting realism and…
16 hours ago
The goal of this article is to provide you with an introduction to motion capture, its uses and requirements. As with any journey, it begins with the first few steps.
Motion Capture (MOCAP)
MOCAP is the process of recording high-resolution movement of objects or people and capturing it into a computer system. It has numerous applications, including military, sports, medical, and, of course, for…
1 day ago
Your virtual production (VP) system isn't just playing back high-resolution video in the background. To work as believable 3D your system must be able to render in real-time and in high frame rate realistic 3D environments. To create and playback these environments you need creation software.
What Is Unreal Engine?
Simply put, it is an advanced real-time creation tool that powers your virtual…
3 days ago
In this article series, we will take a look at five different production styles and come up with suggestions for camera accessories suitable for that style. This article will cover a range of different camera bodies and should provide a foundation for building out your camera package. Please note that for the purposes of this article, I will be excluding smartphones as well as action cameras,…
2 weeks ago
Welcome to Part 2 of Keys to a Happy and Healthy Production Life.
Hopefully you’ve read Part 1, but if not, be sure to check it out.
Working on productions, and making films at every level can be fun, exciting, thrilling, and rewarding. The key to longevity in the…
3 weeks ago
Productions tend to fall into two categories—a disorganized mass of people scurrying around to somehow get the shot off as the sun goes down, leaving crew and cast exhausted at the end of the day, or a smooth moving production that is more like a complex dance, though not as frenetic, far less exhausting, and far more efficient. If you are only going to be working on a film/video production a…
4 weeks ago
This article is an introduction to virtual production using photogrammetry and lidar. In this article I will discuss what photogrammetry is, and how advances in lidar scanning allow you to use it in pre-viz as well as production.
What Is Photogrammetry?
Simply put photogrammetry is the process of creating a 3D image, or gleaning 3D information about a location from 2D images. Essentially you use…
6 months ago
Whether you’re a student or a seasoned veteran, selecting the right camera can make your head spin with questions. Does sensor size matter? What’s the difference between 4:2:0 and 4:2:2? Do I really need a camera that can record 8K? What about raw? We’ll explain the key components that help a camera produce cinematic images, and in doing so, hopefully help you make that all-important decision.…
7 months ago
Color can be one of your greatest allies in the creative process. Even more than color itself, the assurance that your color balance looks as good as possible, is accurate from capture to export, and is consistent from screen to screen can be paramount to sharing your vision with others. To achieve this control over color, a color calibration process is a necessity.
The Two Pillars
When…
1 year ago
In the ever-changing, innovative world of video production, making a new camcorder-purchasing decision requires up-to-date knowledge of the latest features available, along with an understanding of tried-and-true technology. Even seasoned professionals will need to take some time to research the myriad choices offered, then carefully determine which camera fits their needs. The specific…
1 year ago
It can be hard enough to guide your project from conception to completion without introducing delays and technical issues that lessen the power and impact of your film, delays and issues that often can be easily avoided. To that end, test or calibration charts are invaluable tools for pre-production as well as production, and they are not just for rental houses and camera shops. Most available…
1 year ago
Shopping for a filmmaker can be difficult. Equipment tends to be so specific and personal, that getting the right piece of gear to go with what they already have can make anyone frustrated with the holidays—but not to worry! The list below contains suggestions that will suit the needs, and even the fantasies, of pretty much anyone in the filmmaking field, no matter what their role or how long…
1 year ago
Mirrorless cameras are small, light, and can get into spaces traditional cinema and ENG cameras just can't. However, mirrorless cameras are not meant to work on a film set all day long—it just isn't in their ergonomics. This is especially true if you are planning on handholding a camera all day, or working with accessories such as follow focus units, zoom motors, or external monitors.
Build Your…
2 years ago
Hold onto your hat: Kodak is delivering on its promise to release a brand-spanking-new Super 8 film camera. Super 8 is the format that just refuses to expire, and with the release of this new camera, Kodak is bringing Super 8 to a whole new generation of filmmakers. The camera system consists of the…
2 years ago
In addition to working on commercials, documentaries, and feature-length films, I’ve experienced the pleasure and misery of working with low-budget and first-time filmmakers. Most of these filmmakers tend to make the same mistakes and, sadly, I must admit that when I’ve made my own short films, I’ve gone down the rabbit hole and made some of the same mistakes against which I’ve cautioned others.…